Judge praises Shomrim for their part in catching robbers (From This Is Local London)

Judge praises Shomrim for their part in catching robbers

1:02pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in London News By Emma Phippen

The police and a judge have praised the work of the Shomrim in helping apprehend a group of robbers in Hendon.

On August 9, 2011, police were called after four men robbed a man, 24, while he was waiting at a bus stop in Queens Road.

The robbers stole his phone, cash and debit card before grabbing him and threatening to shoot him if he did not give them his pin number.

After seeing the attack, a witness called the Shomrim Community Patrol and a member came to the assistance of the victim.

The Shomrim managed to stop the robbers’ car allowing the police to arrest them.

On Thursday, February 2, at Wood Green Crown Court all four men were found guilty of robbery.

They were Norulhaq Saeed, 21, of Banstock Road, Jonis Farah, 18, of Brook Road, Naqibullah Norzai, 18, of Alder Grove, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons.

They will be sentenced on March 1 at Harrow Crown Court.

At the end of the trial Judge John Anderson said: “It is quite clear that the members of the Shomrim on this occasion have acted very quickly, properly and effectively and, it must be said, bravely.

“They made a very significant and impressive contribution to the safety of their community.

“They demonstrated, in my view, an excellent example of public-spirited willingness to take responsibility, at least partially, for the safety of members of the public in that area and they are to be highly commended for what they did.”

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Hewitt, of Barnet CID, said: “As a result the prompt action of the witness and members of Shomrim four men who may have got away with robbery now stand convicted. The police and the community owe them our thanks for helping to keep Barnet safe.”